River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-10-27

''1he old maa Is little rough, but
one of the best seamen out Of Glasgow.
You complained too soon"
bat. Mr. Andrews. what are we TO
do for grub?" asked Herbert. There
isn't a man in TIE fO'cas;le rs can eat
such stuff. F."
We'll. It's not my lookout what the
owners furnish. Unless you men want
the dickens TO pay. you will turn TO
and make the best Of il. "
That closed the conversation. Not a
man of US spoke of mutiny or even the
slightest resistance to lawful authority.
When our watch was up we turned in
end went TO sleep. l for one cherished
the hope that the provisions would DO
better in the morning. The officers
hail only 10 taste them to realize that
they were totally unfit. and | hoped the
Captain would do this and thus do
away with all causes for complaint
AS the kids were brought forward at
breakfast time. however, we scented
the stinken beef long before it reached
us, and we found the biscuit and tea
as vile rs ever. Having eaten nothing
since the previous noon. and all Of us
being hearty men, you can imagine
that were sharp set. Not n man of us.
however. could swallow that food. and
the kids and pannikins were left stand
ing at the windlass for the cook TO
carry back with their contents I'M
touched. The men looked at each
other with troubled faces. but there
was no threat of muiiny. We went TO
our work on empty stOmachs. as also
did the other watch. and. though the
officers knew it. not n word was said.
The men chewed an extra quantity OF
tobacco. and hoped that noon would
soften the Captains heart.
Noon brought no change. aud when
supper was served and we found the
same grub placed before us. the men
broke out with curses. If the food had
been eaiable. don't you suppose that
sailors. who had been from twenty
four 10 thirty hours without eating n
mOuthful. would have at least nibbled
at il? am telling you what l after
warl made affidavit TO. l made re-
peated attempts 10 worry down some
OF the meat. but each time it was re-
jectcd. Some Of the men who got a
few swallows of tho tea down were
made dreadfully sick. Again we went
supperleSS. but now the men began to
assert that no law of the high seas per-
mitted a captain to starve his crew.
We would wait until morning. and. if
the food was not changed, something
must be done. ! am sure the Captain
expected something 10 occur that
night. for he was frequently on deck.
and the three officers were more than
once in consultation. The cook had
reported. rs we afterwarI learned,
that none of the supper had been eaten.
and the Captain had replied:
well. the burned soiers viii either
cat such grub as | set out. or live on
their own fat
lam telling you truthfully that not
n word Of mutiny was whispered dur
ing the night We made no threats,
and hal no plan. but vet we all felt
that the morning would bring crisis
Of some sort. Ducing the night. in
the case of both watches. the officers
were very abusive. and The men were
s:rsck or kicked without the shadow
of nm excuse. When daylight came.
and We began To- scrub down. the
breezo fed quite away, aud we lay be-
calmed. We were at this time about
ninety or hundred miles from the Brit
ish coast. When it was time for break
fast both watches were on deck. and
as the men went TO the cooks galley
to receive their kids and pannikins all
three officers showed up on deck. /
was at the wheel, and | saw that the
captain and first mate had their re-
volvers. The kids were taken forward
without word. The food had not
been changed. and the men pushed
the dishes away. II there was any
growing / couldn't hear it. The cap
tain waited about ten minutes. and
then. seeing that the men were not
going TO cat. he told the second mate
to order them aft. All came in a
body, and all bore themselves respect
fully.
look here, Herbert" said the
captain. addressing the sailor. who
had acted as spokesman on the previ-
Gus occasion, ''what is the matter with
the s;rub?"
hts bad. sir--unlit to ca" replied
the nun.
THAT is. you lazy lubbers have
agreed amoag you to call il bad. and
so make me put into some port?"
SIR. there's never a man of MS but
what is willing to stand for the voyage
and work our best. but the grub. sir.
begging your pardon. was spoiled long
enough before it came aboard. Would
you please inspect it. sir?"
Not by blamed sight; and now
we'll soc which end Of this ship sails
the other.
With that he rushed upon Herbert 20
strike him with his loaded weapon,
while tho mates seized Delaying pins
and dashed in TO knock down as many
men as they could. The sailors ran
forward. and ! heard some of them
begging for mercy. The officers fol-
lowed them. evidently determined TO
wreak savage vengeance. aud it was
only when driven TO tho windlass that
the men turned. Il was case of self
defence. l could not well see what
followed. but l heard pistol shots.
savage cries. a great struggle. and. rs
it now came on a dead calm, | left the
wheel and ran forward. Ali was over
when ] got TO the foremost. The three
officers were dead or dying. Herbert
and another sailor were dead. and of
the remainder of the men nj least Ia
were seriously wounded. The mutiny
had not lasted above five minutes. For
a long time after ! reached the bow
the men stood looking aroand them
without u;tering word. Then. At
last. a Yankee sailor named Ben Lob
dell who hal bullet in his left
shoulder. stood out little from the
rest aud said:
Mates. we have been driven To
mutiny and murder. Aye. every man
OF you knows we had 10 turn to save
our own lives against these officers
lying dead II has all come about
through the bad grub. l shall now
order the cook to prepare us break
fast. and after that is eaten we shall
consult as to what Is to be done.